By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, JAN 23, 2021: THE Spices Board conducted a virtual buyer-seller meet on Friday to address the concerns of the small cardamom industry and help in sourcing quality products for export to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, an official statement said.

India exported 1,900 metric tonne of small cardamom, valued at Rs. 56.52 crore in the first half of 2020-21, ministry data showed. This was an increase of 483 per cent in value and 369 per cent in terms of quantity of exports.

"The small cardamom sector does face challenges, both at the production and export fronts, due to natural calamities and other factors. Though the collective efforts of stakeholders have helped the Indian small cardamom sector to manage the challenges to a certain extent, further synergistic interventions across the supply chain have been initiated by the Spices Board for sustainable growth of the sector," an official statement said.

The virtual meet saw the participation of more than 130 stakeholders as the Spices Board provided a common platform for them to interact directly and establish effective business linkages with foreign buyers.

The participants stressed on sustainability and adherence to quality standards as key for increasing export, even during the ongoing pandemic.

The Spices Board supports small cardamom stakeholders throughout the supply chain with programmes assisting area expansion, nursery management and pre- and post-harvest management by promoting good agricultural practices and setting up Spice Producer Societies.

Kerala is the largest producer of small cardamom in the country, followed by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.